AusBonsai

Here is an American hornbeam, Carpinus caroliniana.

This tree was my seed producing tree for about 15 years and was grown in the ground. I bought it as a 4" starter from Ray Nesci.

When we were going to move to Canberra I dug it up and put it into a bonsai pot. It has some significant scars where trunks were removed but callouses over very vigorously; too vigorously in fact that I will need to recut some of the scars that have swollen.

I have just about finished cutting back and rewiring after a major wiring about 2 years ago.

I will have to do some thread grafts as well, 2 are anticipated close to some scarring that I need to carve as well.

Pics to follow in the morning once I have finished the wiring and positioning but before the thread grafting.

Grant

Very nice grant lots of ramification in that one
Look forward to see what you do with this one .

After initial wiring but before thread grafting. There are 3 good whips of foliage so I will do 3 new branches; then tidy up the tree as I will inevitably bump a branch or two,

Grant

Hi Grant great job really like the movement in this tree .

An excellent job Grant and will be the goods in no time It that going to be its home? (the pot) I have looked at it a few times and not sure?

Good job grant looks really good

Nice restyle Grant!
So this one is probably the Mother of hundreds if not thousands of Hornbeam!
It looks like it will be a very stately tree in time. I think it should be named 'The Matriarch'.

Regards,
Steven

Update.

Nice!

The Matriarch has filled in very nicely Grant. Lovely graceful branches!

It could just be the photo but it looks to me like the crown could be a bit tall? Is the following viable?
Regards,
Steven

[quote="Steven"]The Matriarch has filled in very nicely Grant. Lovely graceful branches!

It could just be the photo but it looks to me like the crown could be a bit tall? Is the following viable?
Regards,
Steven[/quote



Apex is too tall but will not be reduced for a while. I will let it bulk up for a couple of years,(lots of growing points) and then cut back lightly over a few more years.

Hasten slowly.

I am trying to increase the complexity and interest in many areas at once.

Grant

Looking very nice. awesome progress

I think I can now start to cut out some unnecessary branches and clutter and start to "sculpt" the outline.

Grant

After a further trim and closer look.
Apex will need to fill out a bit more but it is a shrub; rather than a strong tree, and so doesn't seem to be strongly apically dominant.

Grant

So instead of working against apical dominance to keep vigour in lower branches you have the opposite problem!

Great tree by the way. Looking great. Well done.